Action Plans – Hay There Social Media | Social Media Marketing & Management Services for Small Businesses | Social Media Consultinghttp://haytheresocialmedia.com
Fri, 26 Jan 2018 18:30:15 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.54 Reasons Why You Need to Allow Reviews on Your Facebook Business Pagehttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/facebook-reviews/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/facebook-reviews/#respondFri, 26 Jan 2018 18:28:26 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2553 Just having and maintaining your Facebook business page isn’t enough anymore. You also need to allow reviews on your Facebook business page. Consumers have more information at their fingertips than ever before, and you need to stay a step ahead of the competition. Here are 4 Reasons Why You Need to Allow Reviews […]

Just having and maintaining your Facebook business page isn’t enough anymore. You also need to allow reviews on your Facebook business page. Consumers have more information at their fingertips than ever before, and you need to stay a step ahead of the competition.

Here are 4 Reasons Why You Need to Allow Reviews on your Facebook Business Page:

1. Credibility

You can write anything you want on your own business website, touting how great you are and promising services and products you may or may not be able to actually provide – and consumers know that.

You could be a one-person business – but with a larger-than-life appearance on your website that makes you appear to be the best thing since sliced bread, with a plethora of employees. You could claim to be a trusted business that has been around for 100 years, yet you really just started out last month.

Consumers in 2018 are more aware that not every website contains the whole truth. That’s why you need to allow customers to leave reviews on your Facebook page! Prospective clients and buyers can see that real people have interacted with your business (maybe even some of their friends), and that you truly are what you say you are.

2. Transparency

The more transparent you are, the more credibility you gain. Having reviews from actual people on your business Facebook page allows everyone to see you are an honest company. Customers can talk about and share all aspects of your company: Actual products and their quality; services provided and how successful they are; and customer service aspects such as timeliness, courteousness, effectiveness, and responsiveness.

Customers are much more educated than they used to be – and they have many more avenues to research you and other companies. If you don’t have proof from real people backing up your claims, they can easily find another company that does.

While people can certainly go to a specific review site such as Yelp to read thoughts and interactions, you’re missing an opportunity to increase your transparency if you don’t allow reviews on your Facebook page – because more people are on Facebook, more often, than they are on Yelp.

(Still, for many businesses, Yelp shouldn’t be ignored. Get Yelp help here.)

3. Brand visibility

The more people who interact with your Facebook page, and the more often that they do, the more your organic reach interactions will increase – meaning your posts are actually being seen on newsfeeds without paying for ads increases.

Facebook is always changing its algorithms on how certain posts will be seen. Quite often, those changes make it even more difficult for business pages to maintain an adequate organic reach, so you need every bit of interaction you can get.

Plus, when people post on your page, leave a review, or share your page, their friends may see the interactions – and can start interacting on your page as well (or at least scoping things out a bit!). That’s why customers leaving reviews on your Facebook page increases your brand visibility.

4. Reputation management

You may think you don’t want to enable Facebook reviews on your business page because you don’t want the world to see every little issue or concern customers may have – whether they are right or not. But, enabling customer reviews helps you to maintain control over your online reputation management!

The key is responding to every review – and handling every complaint. Sure, someone can just as easily post something negative on your wall, or in response to a post you made. You may simply ignore a complaint posted somewhere else, but a potential customer could read that and it could get stuck in their head that you’re not a company they want to deal with. That’s why enabling Facebook reviews allows to you keep all those concerns in one spot – and that customers can see the issue has been handled.

Customers are savvy: They know that things happen and not every reviewer is real or rational. But showing how you resolved – or attempted to resolve – an issue is key. After all, most people want to simply be heard and recognized.

Responding to Facebook reviews allows you to fix problems or concerns with customers. First, always respond to such a review privately and immediately. Address the issue and determine the best way to fix it. Then, post publicly on the review that you have contacted the person and are working to discuss his or her concerns. Once you have taken care of the concern to the customer’s satisfaction, post a follow up response on the review to provide closure and show you were able to handle the issue effectively.

Don’t go viral in a bad way by flying off the handle or getting snarky. If you are upset with a review, it’s OK to walk away. It’s also OK to outsource your online customer service (and Facebook reviews!) to a company like Hay There Social Media. We can manage your clients and customers in a professional and timely manner – freeing you up to grow your business!

Hay There Social Media

Responding to reviews on your Facebook business page and maintaining your online reputation management can be time consuming. Hay There Social Media has the knowledge and experience to take care of it for you – with you – to increase your brand’s visibility and provide additional customer service support. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/facebook-reviews/feed/08 Things You Must Do to Make Your Website Social Media Friendlyhttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/make-your-website-social-media-friendly/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/make-your-website-social-media-friendly/#respondTue, 12 Dec 2017 00:30:47 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2550 Your website – whether it’s selling a product, offering a service or sharing information – NEEDS to be social media friendly. Why? You want as much exposure as you can get, right? Well, that means you need to make it easy-peasy for anyone coming across your website to share a page on social media! […]

Your website – whether it’s selling a product, offering a service or sharing information – NEEDS to be social media friendly. Why? You want as much exposure as you can get, right? Well, that means you need to make it easy-peasy for anyone coming across your website to share a page on social media!

Get in on that time! Imagine people sharing links to your website, and their friends commenting on, liking and sharing them as well. Think of all the potential exposure you’ll be getting (especially if you’re a dentist or medical practice)! But to make the most of those opportunities, you need to make sure your website is social media friendly.

Here are 8 Things You Must Do to Make Your Website Social Media Friendly:

1. Have an image on every page

When you share content on Facebook and other social media sites, a link preview automatically populates with an image. That picture is whatever is already on your website’s page – which could mean a logo or other random image that doesn’t necessarily correlate to the content itself, but it’s sitting somewhere on that page. Or, there could be no image, logo or otherwise, that populates in the preview.

Associate an appropriate image for EACH and every page on your website – even your “contact us” page – because you’ll never know when someone wants to share it! And links shared without images are boring.

Images must be:

Relevant to the page itself

Appropriate for all audiences to see (no NSFW main images)

The correct size so as not to be cropped out, or too small

Non-stock whenever possible

2. Use an attention-getting headline or title

That link preview that pops up on social media also generates the page title or headline. So, naturally, you’ll want to be thinking ahead when creating those titles on your website to ensure they are interesting and eye-catching.

But DO NOT rely on click-bait headlines! Sure, we all probably use them at some point or another, but unless you’re a gossip site. chances are you won’t benefit.

Headlines should:

Tell the point of the page/article/blog post in clear terms

Make people to want to find out more

Be appropriate for all audiences

3. Have enticing and appropriate preview content

You know that preview content that automatically generates when someone shares a link on social media? You can control it. This little blurb of content is important because it lets the reader know what they could read more about if they just click that link. And you want them to click the link, right?

Preview content:

Should be slightly more in-depth than the headline

Can be the first line of content from the page itself

Shouldn’t be copyright or other content unrelated to the specific page

4. Be mobile-friendly

When’s the last time you viewed your business website on your phone? Go through every page and see how each one looks on a mobile platform. If it doesn’t pass your test, make sure you have the mobile-friendly optimizer option enabled on your website.

To be mobile-friendly:

Ensure the mobile-friendly optimizer option is enabled on your website

Be conscious of content you have in sidebars (which can be overlooked)

Don’t make users click to the next page for each image, example, or product you want to showcase (list as many as possible on one page, or else the user may give up)

5. Have links to your social media accounts

These days, people want to check your business out on social media. They like to see what other people say about you, your product or service, and your customer service.

So, make it easy for them to find you – and talk to you. Put links on your main website page to connect people directly to your social media accounts (because you have them set up and maintained, right?).

6. Use social media share icons

The easier it is for someone to share your content, the more likely they will be to do so. Don’t make an interested party jump through hoops to pass along your content…because you may be losing out on a prospective buyer or client if they have to put in a lot of effort.

Have the social media share icons inserted on every page, article or blog content (yes, you should have a blog!) on your site. There are several options for you to install that will allow users to automatically post your link on their own Facebook, Twitter or other social media platform.

7. Enable comments

People want to be able to contact you immediately – and without having to take extra steps to do so. They don’t always want to look around for your phone number or email address, and they may not want to post on your social media accounts (or Yelp, either) for whatever reason.

Allow them the opportunity to leave a comment directly on each relevant page on your website – especially ones that could invite discussion. They may applaud your product, complain about it, or ask you a question.

Most importantly, make sure you respond to each and every comment – EVEN the not-so-great ones. (Here’s why). Be sure to have something installed on your website to monitor and delete the automated bot comments that can inevitably show up (or keep a strict watchful eye yourself).

8.Add social media feeds to your website

If you’re posting on social media routinely (and of course you are!), you can add a widget to your website that will display an updated account of your social media feeds. This way, people will see that you are a real, up-to-date business who is active on social media.

Being active on social media helps make your brand more relatable, personal and inviting to new clients and customers.

Let Hay There Social Media help!

At Hay There Social Media, our team is fully immersed in the social media world, and we know how to manage your digital content marketing so you get the most exposure (and bring in more business). Contact us today to find out how we can help you make your website social media friendly, and maintain your social media presence for you.

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/make-your-website-social-media-friendly/feed/0How Social Media Influences Buyinghttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/social-media-influences-buying/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/social-media-influences-buying/#respondFri, 01 Dec 2017 19:34:24 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2546Everyone is online, and on social media. All. The. Time. Those days of being excited about going to work on Cyber Monday to slyly shop for gifts because you didn’t have Internet at home are long gone. That’s why if you’re not promoting your products on social media, you’re missing out on a large market […]

Everyone is online, and on social media. All. The. Time. Those days of being excited about going to work on Cyber Monday to slyly shop for gifts because you didn’t have Internet at home are long gone. That’s why if you’re not promoting your products on social media, you’re missing out on a large market that spreads faster than word of mouth – because not only will people see your product, but they’ll be able to instantly purchase it!

Social media does the marketing for you, getting your product viewed by the people who want to see it! And Hay There Social Media helps you do that. Here’s how social media influences consumer buying habits these days:

It’s easy to quickly click and buy

We’ve all been there. That one person (or maybe several) on your holiday shopping list who you just have NO idea what to get. You wander around the stores aimlessly hoping something grabs your eye. You search online through specific categories on Amazon – but there’s a plethora of options so you become overwhelmed…and give up.

Then, you jump over to Facebook to see what everyone is up to. Lo and behold, the PERFECT gift for that certain someone scrolls through your newsfeed. It could be a piece of unique jewelry, a shirt with a funny saying on it, or maybe a new piece of tech gear that you haven’t seen before.

You click on the link, which takes you to the company’s website. You read about the item – and see it’s on sale. Score! While you’re there, you browse around that website a little more and find some other things that will make great gifts for a few other loved ones. Click. Buy. Gifts purchased.

Thank you, social media marketing, for making it easy to finish that holiday shopping!

It’s already integrated into your daily routine

How many times are you on social media each day? Gone are the days of scouring sale ads, or setting aside an entire weekend afternoon to hit the mall and shop for gifts. Instead, you can shop on your phone, tablet or laptop while you’re taking a break at work, eating lunch, or taking a few minutes to yourself after the kids get to bed.

Maybe you ask for recommendations on social media and friends drop suggestions. Or, better yet, maybe the gift recipient tags you and draws your attention to gift ideas. Either way, social media makes buying gifts that much easier because you don’t have to make any special effort. It’s just kind of already there.

Sponsored social media ads highlight individual items

Oh, and guess what? That perfect gift that scrolled through your newsfeed was a likely sponsored ad – either one that just appeared for you, or one that a friend shared. And it worked, didn’t it?

If you’re a company selling a product, narrowing options down for the consumer can help you sell more items because it eliminates the hassle of browsing. The next time you see a sponsored ad for a specialty T-shirt or sparkly baubles, open the post and check out the comments. See how many people have tagged their friends to share it with them. That’s social media marketing at its best.

Hay There Social Media knows social media marketing

The good part about marketing on social media is that you don’t have to make a commercial and hope your target audience sees it. Let Hay There Social Media help you promote your product to the right people, interact with customers, increase sales and track the results.

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/social-media-influences-buying/feed/0Business Call for Help: 7 Ways To Navigate Yelphttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/business-call-help-7-ways-navigate-yelp/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/business-call-help-7-ways-navigate-yelp/#respondFri, 10 Nov 2017 16:41:52 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2542Love it or hate it, more and more customers are providing feedback in the form of online reviews. In fact, according to the White House Office of Consumer Affairs, for every customer who complains, there are 26 others who remain silent. One of the biggest platforms for online reviews is Yelp.com. Founded in 2004, Yelp is […]

One of the biggest platforms for online reviews is Yelp.com. Founded in 2004, Yelp is a leading local guide for word-of-mouth on everything from mechanics to dentists. The website allows users to sign up and create reviews based on experiences. Yelp also rewards users that post often by giving their reviews prominence.

Though Yelp’s process may seem daunting to some since it doesn’t post every single review in order, it’s a strategic move to keep the most relevant reviews at the top of the page — and keep trolls looking to sabotage businesses off the site.

For business owners, using Yelp is a must. Not only is it a useful tool to glean instant feedback about your business, it can also be a way to communicate with your customers, clients and fans. You can also learn how people found your business and best of all? It’s FREE to get started.

If you still need guidance, the team here at Hay There Social Media has managed Yelp for clients for many years. Here are our best tips and 7 Ways To Navigate Yelp:

Claim your page.

The first thing a business should do with Yelp is claim your page. This will allow you to respond to reviews and view metrics to help gain consumer insight – including the number of website visits and phone calls made directly from your Yelp listing.

Keep business information updated.

Yelp makes it easy to make sure your business website, hours, address and more are accurate. Simply log in as a business owner to add photos, highlight a new menu, or create a check-in offer. Make sure to log in periodically to ensure all information is updated. For multi-location businesses, make sure information is consistent on each listing.

Respond to reviews – even the positive ones.

Regardless of the number of stars on your Yelp profile, responding to reviews in a proactive manner puts you ahead of the crowd and helps you to develop a relationship with your fans and customers. For those who take the time to write about your business, say thank you. Being acknowledged is a great way to garner repeat customers. It’s also a way to keep track of what you are doing right, and pass on kudos to employees.

Address the negative.

If there is a negative review, respond in a genuine manner. Engage in a polite dialogue – Yelp is not the place for snark or sass. Your response can be as simple as explaining that your company takes complaints seriously and that you will take their feedback into consideration. Do not get defensive – remember anything you write will be public. If you have further questions or need more specific information from the customer, ask them to message you to determine how best to remedy the situation.

Defend your business behind the scenes.

If you feel your business is being trolled for an unfair reason, mark the review as such and file a ticket with Yelp to dispute the review with an explanation. Yelp loses credibility if reviews aren’t accurate, so most disputes are taken care of quickly.

Monitor!

Yelp makes it easy to set-up an email alert anytime a user posts a review. That way, you are able to get and respond to feedback in real time. The Hay There Social Media team aims to respond to reviews within 24 hours during the business week.

Know your audience and advertise if it makes sense.

The average Yelp user is a college educated professional, age 18-44, and making $100k+ each year, according to Yelp’s demographics. If this is similar to your target market, consider advertising. It doesn’t make sense for every business, but the Yelp team makes it easy to test-drive a Yelp deal, gift certificate, or check-in offer to see if it helps attract new customers or reward regulars.

Overall, Yelp can be a wonderful business tool. Still have questions? The team at Hay There Social Media has many years of experience managing Yelp and other review platforms. Contact us today!

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/business-call-help-7-ways-navigate-yelp/feed/0Doctors, Dentists and Specialists…How Social Media Can Help Your Medical Practicehttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/doctors-dentists-specialists-social-media-can-help-medical-practice/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/doctors-dentists-specialists-social-media-can-help-medical-practice/#respondFri, 20 Oct 2017 15:20:06 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2534 Is it appropriate for a medical practice to be on social media? Our team here at Hay There Social Media says YES! Social sites are frequently searched when a potential patient is looking for a new medical practice. In fact, 74% of Internet users engage on social media, and 80% of those users are […]

Is it appropriate for a medical practice to be on social media? Our team here at Hay There Social Media says YES!

Social sites are frequently searched when a potential patient is looking for a new medical practice. In fact, 74% of Internet users engage on social media, and 80% of those users are specifically looking for health information. Additionally, nearly half of those users are searching for information about a specific doctor or professional. (source)

When used on a consistent basis, social media can be a great tool to teach the facts, allow patients to get to know your practice on a more personal level, and even a spot to highlight considerations that may inspire conversation for a future appointment.

Questions to consider before jumping on the bandwagon

What is the target market for your patient base? Who are your patients and how far do they travel to get to you? Is your practice the only one of its kind in town or are there other choices? To remain viable, your practice must not only retain current patients, but draw in new ones, too.

A solid social strategy is an obvious must, but creating compelling content every day? That can be a major challenge for over-scheduled professionals. Often times, the doctors we work with simply do not have time to devote to social media content creation. That’s where we come in!

But what kind of content could we share?

We pride ourselves on sharing a mix of content that is educational, promotional and social in nature for our medical-related clients. This mix allows for patients to nod their head in agreement, have a laugh, or learn something new.

Our team of socially-savvy writers have the expertise to create engaging content — whether it’s through Facebook posts, Instagram photos, written blog posts, or more. Our team is happy to post daily, weekly, or monthly, based on your needs.

Additionally, we are there should a patient leave feedback following an appointment. Part of our process includes us closely coordinating with your team to ensure each and every social media post is handled in an efficient manner.

We are careful to understand privacy issues and HIPAA regulations, and are able to confidently navigate our clients through controversial posts or negative messages, should they occur.

Hay There in action

We are proud of the work we have done for a variety of clients in the medical field, from a medical supply company and multi-practice dental office, to a metro Detroit gynecologist and midwife group.

Our process is simple: We scour the Internet in search of information to share, while keeping up with social trends, trusted medical sites and governing bodies. By sharing information from the latest news tidbits, to the most recent journal research, we have had great success building our niche of expertise and trust with current and potential patients.

Some of our best content is sharable memes and images our staff creates. We love sharing “office life” photos, and real-life scenarios, which help our doctors connect with patients on a more personal level. When patients respond positively, or share the piece of content, it’s more exposure for the practice. It’s truly a win-win.

Working with Hay There

The medical industry has undergone so many changes in recent years, and we can no longer operate on the premise that new patients will simply show up. Patients are researching more than ever, and looking for medical practitioners who are proactive both online and in their community. Solid social media content can absolutely help get you noticed.

Curious about how to get more out of social content? We’d be delighted to talk with your practice. Contact us today!

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/doctors-dentists-specialists-social-media-can-help-medical-practice/feed/04 Reasons Why Your Business Website Needs a Bloghttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/4-reasons-business-website-needs-blog/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/4-reasons-business-website-needs-blog/#respondThu, 12 Oct 2017 19:42:06 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2527Blogs are over, right? They are only for moms or wacky conspiracy theorists. WRONG! Welcome to 2017, where every business website – including yours – needs a blog. The blogs of yesteryear are gone, and today’s blogs are actually more like articles – so it’s time to change your thinking about them. Fact is, if […]

Blogs are over, right? They are only for moms or wacky conspiracy theorists.

WRONG!

Welcome to 2017, where every business website – including yours – needs a blog. The blogs of yesteryear are gone, and today’s blogs are actually more like articles – so it’s time to change your thinking about them.

Fact is, if your business isn’t blogging, you are missing out. As we’ve learned at Hay There Social Media, blogs are vital to your online presence. Here’s why:

1. Exposure.

How often do you check Facebook on your phone? How often do you click on articles your friends have shared? How often do you share those articles?

Word spreads like wildfire on social media – and you need to be taking advantage of that! Having a well-written blog post on your website allows you the opportunity to post that on your business’ social media sites for everyone to read…and share! That increases user interaction, which increases the number of times your Facebook or other social media platform is being exposed to your followers and potential new followers.

We are well beyond the information age. Everyone can Google or simply ask Siri for the answers to their questions…but the question you need to answer is, will YOUR business show up on those search results?

Perhaps, if someone Googles your business specifically.

But don’t you want your business to show up in online search results when people don’t even know they’re looking for you? Your business website needs a blog because it increases the chances of random people finding you.

Let’s say you’re a credit union. Imagine someone Googles, “Should I use a bank or a credit union?” and the first item that comes up is an article from a bank – because that particular bank had a blog about “5 Reasons a Bank is Better Than a Credit Union.” Bummer.

Now imagine that you, as a credit union, have a blog on your website titled, “6 Reasons Why You Should Use a Credit Union Instead of a Bank.” Now you have the opportunity for that to show up on a Google search, and for new customers to head your way instead of the neighboring bank. Score!

3. Credibility.

If your website has just the basics, you may be losing out on opportunities. Let’s say you have an About Us page, a list of the products or services you provide, your locations and contact information – and that’s it.

Sure, that may be all someone needs to know when they’re looking at your website. Maybe they just Googled you specifically to find your phone number or location.

But what if they’re searching for the best business, product or service to fit their needs?

If someone lands on your website and finds a bunch of blogs answering common questions or providing helpful information, that helps establish your credibility and makes you appear to be more of an expert on the product or service you provide.

4. Well-written information.

You’re good at what you do at your business – but does that include writing? At Hay There Social Media, our team has previous experience in newspaper reporting, journalism, editing and public relations. That means we’ve been professionally trained to write. And, as such, we have the uncanny ability to research and write on any topic.

We know how to research topics related to your business – and we know which reputable sites we can learn from. But we also learn from talking to you, and from interviewing other sources when needed (because we’ve had plenty of experience interviewing professionals in varying public and private sectors). And we know why your business website needs a blog.

Let Hay There Social Media write your business website blogs.

At Hay There Social Media, we know what works in the social media world. We know what your clients want to read about, we know how to come up with topic ideas, and we know how to write professional blogs for your business. Contact us today to set up a meeting to find out how we can help your business website with a blog.

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/4-reasons-business-website-needs-blog/feed/03 reasons why your business needs to outsource online customer servicehttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/3-reasons-business-needs-outsource-online-customer-service/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/3-reasons-business-needs-outsource-online-customer-service/#respondFri, 06 Oct 2017 02:18:37 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2519You log on to your business Facebook page for the first time in a week. There it is, in your notifications. A review. And it’s only two stars! Immediately, your palms start to sweat. Sue C. has some pretty harsh words about her recent experience. And she wrote this five days ago. It’s sat there, […]

You log on to your business Facebook page for the first time in a week.

There it is, in your notifications. A review. And it’s only two stars!

Immediately, your palms start to sweat. Sue C. has some pretty harsh words about her recent experience. And she wrote this five days ago. It’s sat there, unanswered and what’s worse? Tom T. has chimed in as well, with an eye roll emoji and a snarky “I’m not surprised!”

This is bad. Does the boss know? What do you do now? Is it too late to respond? Will you make things worse?

Record scratch.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Did you know you can outsource online customer service? Yes, it’s true! Imagine never having to see the red glare of a notification on social media again, reminding you that it’s now time to draft a response to someone who had a bad experience with your company.

Ignoring online customer service is no longer an option.

Your customers can – and are – leaving feedback about your business 24/7, 365 on a variety of public platforms – including social media sites. Yelp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google + are just a few, not to mention specialty sites for businesses like senior housing, medical practices, health and fitness providers and restaurants. The list goes on and on!

By choosing not to respond to your online reviews, you are missing out. You are also saying to your customers and clients that you don’t care what they have to say and that their feedback isn’t valid. It’s Customer Service 101 in the digital age.

If you’ve had this panic or indecision about an online review or customer service issue, there is help available – you can outsource online customer service!

Making the decision to outsource online customer service can be a benefit to your business – and help you sleep easy at night, knowing it is handled. Here are three reasons to outsource online customer service. Read on:

Accountability

A team that is devoted to managing your customer service does just that: Reading, responding and handling any and all customer feedback. That means your staff can’t just let complaints slip under the rug. Valid concerns and feedback will be addressed and resolved. That’s crucial for service industries and also industries that thrive on word-of-mouth, like retailers and service providers. If you have a product to sell, we know things can go wrong. But if a potential customer can see that the company responded and made things right, they are more likely to trust and do business with that company.

Real-time Feedback

There are few things more valuable than real-time feedback, as a business owner. If something isn’t working – like a new product or service, or one of your employees isn’t providing the best face for your company – managing online customer service can help uncover those issues so you can nip them in the bud. It’s also a way to glean valuable marketing data. Does everyone love the new colors you launched? Is a new program or product amazing and being talked about online? Making the decision to outsource online customer service can give you that real-time feedback and response that you crave – so you can focus on growing your business.

Peace of Mind

It can be a good thing to have an outsider handle critical feedback about your business. Why? An outsider won’t get defensive when crafting that perfect response to a critic. Snark and anger have no place in an online review response. How many times have we seen those kinds of responses “go viral?” It can kill your business faster than a series of negative reviews. Also, when you outsource your online customer service, someone is always watching your social channels and is focused on your online reputation. If someone posts a review, an outside team will be on it – and you’ll know about it. You won’t have to worry if someone on your team has checked Facebook today to see if there is something that needs a response.

Hay There Social Media

The expert team at Hay There Social Media has years of experience handling online reviews for companies big and small on a variety of platforms. We do this EVERY DAY and are committed to helping your company present its best face to clients and customers. Be your boss’ hero. Add improving online\customer service as a goal to your next team meeting. Want to talk about online customer service? Contact us today!

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/3-reasons-business-needs-outsource-online-customer-service/feed/0COMING SOON: Digital Summit Detroit September 2015http://haytheresocialmedia.com/coming-soon-digital-summit-detroit-september-2015/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/coming-soon-digital-summit-detroit-september-2015/#commentsMon, 14 Sep 2015 12:58:43 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2443Fall brings crisp weather and sweet cider to Michigan and this year, it is also bring Digital Summit Detroit. And Hay There Social Media’s team will be in attendance, soaking up the latest and greatest in techniques, tips and tactics to help clients maximize their digital marketing dollars. Industry leaders are converging on Detroit Sept. […]

Fall brings crisp weather and sweet cider to Michigan and this year, it is also bring Digital Summit Detroit. And Hay There Social Media’s team will be in attendance, soaking up the latest and greatest in techniques, tips and tactics to help clients maximize their digital marketing dollars.

Industry leaders are converging on Detroit Sept. 22-23 to discuss every aspect of digital marketing. Anyone with an interest in digital marketing, social media and strategies is sure to want to be at this must-attend event. If you want to sharpen the saw and grow your network, hearing from this killer speaker lineup on topics like content marketing, digital strategies, emerging technology and – of course – social media, Digital Summit Detroit (@DigSumDetroit on Twitter) is the place to be.

There’s also plenty of time to mix and mingle with some of Detroit’s top digital marketing pros.

The summit is at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit, the region’s top leaders – including the Hay There Team – will be downtown and ready to learn. Hat tip to having Digital Summit Detroit IN Detroit – the city is a growing tech hub, full of eager entrepreneurs making their mark on the digital world.

With hundreds of digital marketing gurus, decision makers and influencers in attendance, the event is sure to stir up buzz on social media. Follow #DSDET15 on Twitter so you don’t miss a thing.

“Our team is eager to learn and share the knowledge we gain at Digital Summit Detroit,” said Hay There Social Media founder Emily A. Hay. “It’s a great opportunity to hear new ideas and best practices to brainstorm about and implement for our clients.”

Digital Summit Detroit is organized by TechMedia. Want to attend? There are still spots. Passes start at $295. You can still purchase them here.

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/coming-soon-digital-summit-detroit-september-2015/feed/1Share Why #MichiganIsAuto on Social Media For A Chance at $500http://haytheresocialmedia.com/michigan-is-auto/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/michigan-is-auto/#respondThu, 15 Jan 2015 01:56:46 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2411Disclosure: The Detroit Regional Chamber is a client of Hay There Social Media. Do you have a great reason why #MichiganIsAuto? Time to share it! Each year, more than 85,000 people gather at Cobo Center in Detroit to admire cars of all kinds at the North American International Auto Show. In turn, our region is impacted with […]

Each year, more than 85,000 people gather at Cobo Center in Detroit to admire cars of all kinds at the North American International Auto Show. In turn, our region is impacted with millions of dollars. Michigan is synonymous to automotive — period.

So as the global automotive industry heads to Detroit this week for press preview, MICHauto — the state’s automotive accelerator — is gearing up to reinforce why Michigan is the epicenter of the auto industry.

Through January 23, MICHauto will award two $500 VISA gift cards to the entry that posts the best, most creative reason why #MichiganIsAuto. To enter, post your submission on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram using the hashtag #MichiganIsAuto.

Be sure to tag MICHauto on social media as well using the handles below:

This contest is not just for people who work in automotive or those who attend preview week — this is inclusive of ANY proud Michigander of any age.

During NAIAS, the Detroit Regional Chamber and MICHauto will be sharing the #MichiganIsAuto hashtag, creating a buzz around all that is happening at the show.

Whether it’s manufacturing, infrastructure, or the engineering talent we have to drive the future, use the #MichiganIsAuto hashtag to showcase the reasons why Michigan does automotive better than anyone else.

MICHauto will announce the two $500 winners on their social media channels on Friday, Jan. 16 and Friday, Jan. 23.

To learn more about MICHauto and the #MichiganIsAuto campaign, visit www.michauto.org.

Are you heading to NAIAS? Make sure to use the #MichiganIsAuto and #NAIAS hashtags, which will be trending all week!

]]>http://haytheresocialmedia.com/michigan-is-auto/feed/0How Print Media Companies Can Win with Social Media Campaignshttp://haytheresocialmedia.com/print-media-companies-can-win-social-media-campaigns/
http://haytheresocialmedia.com/print-media-companies-can-win-social-media-campaigns/#respondThu, 20 Mar 2014 21:52:23 +0000http://haytheresocialmedia.com/?p=2315The Millennial mom of today is parenting with a smartphone in her hand. Whether she works full- or part-time – or stays at home with her children – these young mamas are using Pinterest, Tweeting, blogging, Facebooking and Instagramming about parenting, all day long. Hay There Social Media’s founder, Emily A. Hay, recently spoke at […]

]]>The Millennial mom of today is parenting with a smartphone in her hand. Whether she works full- or part-time – or stays at home with her children – these young mamas are using Pinterest, Tweeting, blogging, Facebooking and Instagramming about parenting, all day long.

Hay There Social Media’s founder, Emily A. Hay, recently spoke at the Parenting Media Association’s annual conference in Philadelphia on the topic of engaging tech-savvy, social moms with content from around the Web – and how traditional print media companies can reach this desirable market by using social media like it is 2014 – not 2009.

According to the PMA Web site, member publications represent a monthly circulation nearing 5 million – with a readership of nearly 11.5 million. And, that number is growing daily.

With this kind of reach, it’s clear that members of the Parenting Media Association are shifting into infusing social media into the hardcopy product they deliver so well – using tools like Twitter parties, Facebook groups and online chats to reach readers in the ways they demand.

Why is this group of moms so important to members of the PMA? They represent the future of the business. They WANT to read about parenting. But they don’t necessarily plan to do so only via a hardcopy magazine.

To reach Millennial moms, the approach has to change. These young women are using social media in record numbers. But they reach for their smartphones to learn more about their communities, parenting AND they want to make real-life connections with other moms in their communities. This is why PMA members are discovering products, services and social media tools to make the lives of these busy, young moms easier and more fulfilling.

These moms are used to – and expect – personalization and a certain level of engagement. They demand a high level of responsiveness and customer service.

So what can PMA members do to capitalize on this use of social media? A few Facebook posts or Tweets won’t cut it. To reach these moms, PMA members can embrace cutting edge social media efforts, such as hosting regular Twitter parties – partnered with like-minded brands, companies and services – to provide a social experience that gratifies all parties.

For any media association, this social campaign option should be in all advertising packages and media kits. In addition to traditional banner ads, hard copy ads, Twitter parties deliver added value for all. It’s a win-win-win (for the magazine, the advertiser and for the party attendee/reader).Think of it this way: Dozens of moms Tweeting about cooking in a Twitter party sponsored by a local restaurant. Now that’s a valuable investment for a local business!

To succeed – and reach Millennial moms – Twitter parties are just one example of the way to “get social” effectively. PMA members need to offer this innovative and growing activity to advertisers and embrace other outside-the-box methods to engage their social audience. Add social media layers to your already robust editorial calendar; think like an agency to come up with creative ways to help advertisers spread the word about new products and don’t forget that paid (boosted/promoted) social media posts are the new normal for everyday businesses and media companies alike in order to get content in front of the very people your advertisers pay to reach.

After all, Millennial moms want meaningful, shareable and engaging content. She wants to feel like she’s a valued and cared-for customer. She wants to be a part of the conversation.

Emily A. Hay had this to say: “Even prior to presenting at the conference, it was quite clear that parenting media associations are very in touch with their readers. I feel more strongly than ever that these digital content-savvy organizations have a tremendous opportunity today and going forward to leverage social media channels to extend their connection. The parenting audience will continue to turn to these publications; however, young moms will simply do so via social communication channels.”

Have questions about infusing social media into your advertising packages and media kits?